FIFA introduce new rule days before World Cup as England ‘singled out’

The tournament kicks off within the next few weeks.

Per the newspaper's report,  Fifa refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, has revealed that IFAB, the International Football Association Board, will bring into use a rule change that will allow: "Match officials to rule out goals for fouls committed by the attacking team before the ball is kicked from a corner or free kick."

Collina's announcement comes as the International Football Association Board (IFAB) informs participating nations and match officials of a series of rule changes and amendments that will be in effect during the World Cup.

As part of the new clampdown on "wrestling at corners," officials will be warned about certain practices, and the teams that typically make use of them.

One such nation is likely to be England, with Collina having reportedly made use of a direct reference to a goal scored by the Three Lions in a recent friendly as an example.

Per the Times, "Collina highlighted a goal scored by England in a friendly against Uruguay where Adam Wharton body-checked the defender José María Giménez before a corner was taken. Ben White ended up scoring."

WATCH: Ben White's goal vs Uruguay

As part of their report, the Times also included the following quotation from Collina, as means of an explanation for the updated rule.

"We try to solve this and let’s see what can be next. It would only be for fouls committed by an attacker.

"I don’t think any of you would be happy with a goal scored as a result of a foul being committed and the reason why the VAR can’t intervene is that the protocol says that.”

He also went on to describe why the Ben White goal versus Uruguay would have been ruled out under the new regulations.

He said: "There is a clear foul committed against the defender.

"The attacker clearly goes and illegally blocks the opponent; his only objective is to prevent the defender from being able to defend against his opponent.

“We are convinced that this goal cannot stand, it is completely unfair.

"We want the VAR to intervene even if a foul is committed just before the ball is in play. We are convinced nobody can object to that.”

“Our referees will be ready. So if this is a tactic, part of the preparation of our referees is to know in advance which tactics are implemented by teams.

"We have match analysts preparing, providing referees [with] information. If you know something before, you put your attention where [it] might be needed.”